Net Literacy Supports Connect to Compete’s 2015-2016 Indianapolis Launch with a Safety Awareness Campaign and Free Computers

Net Literacy starts the 2015-2016 school year by helping increase access to technology in areas within Indianapolis where more than 85% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunches.

Says Net Literacy’s Daniel Kent, “Our friends at Bright House Networks are launching Connect to Compete (C2C) in Indianapolis, and this initiative provides affordable broadband to low income families with K12 students. Now that qualifying families can receive broadband for less than $10 per month, we’re doing our part to help students be safe while having fun online and to provide parents a no cost option to obtain the technology that they’ll need to access broadband. IPS 51 is the first IPS school where’s there’s a formal school coordinated C2C launch, and we’re highlighting online safety with a challenge to the 3rd to 6th graders to write a few sentences about what they’d tell a friend, a classmate or a family how to be safe while having fun online. The 30 best entries, to be selected by Net Literacy student volunteers, will win netbooks or thumb drives (IPS 51 Safety Contest). In October at a school assembly, we’ll announce the student winners at a safety assembly where we’ll show some of our student created safety PSAs and short videos to help progress the students’ learning about online safety.

Also, we have more than 1000 computers in IPS’s warehouse to support families interested in participating in the C2C program but finding it difficult to afford purchasing a new or refurbished computers.

Finally, we’re conducting our 3rd annual IPS Students Against Bullying Awareness Contest and encourage students to become TV stars and youth heroes by helping spread the word about safety with an initiative that allows teens to become youth heroes and TV Stars…with lights, camera, action! While the campaign hasn’t officially launched yet, it will be similar to past year’s programs ( http://www.netliteracy.org/?p=6941).”

For more information, email me at danielkent(at)netliteracy.org

Breakthrough Learning in a Digital Age – Revolution in Learning

Opening remarks by Connie Yowell, Director of Education, MacArthur Foundation
Opening Panel moderated by Brad Stone, New York Times
Gary E. Knell, President and CEO, Sesame Workshop
Mizuko Ito, Research Scientist, University of California, Irvine
James Steyer, CEO and Founder, Common Sense Media
Reed Hastings, CEO, Netflix


Breakthrough Learning in a Digital Age – New Learning Designs

Moderated by John Merrow, Education
Correspondent, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
Jason Levy, Principal, New York City Intermediate School 339
Larry Rosenstock, Founder, High Tech High School Network
Katie Salen, Executive Director, Institute of Play, Professor of Design and
Technology, and Director of the Center for Transformative Media, Parsons the
New School for Design
Rey Ramsey, CEO, One Economy Corporation


Breakthrough Learning in a Digital Age – Geoff Canada

Geoff Canada

Description: Geoff Canada, of the Harlem Children’s Zone talks about the danger of allowing technology to widen the gap between rich kids and poor kids and our responsiblity to ensure that this does not happen.


Breakthrough Learning in a Digital Age – Driving Student Success

Moderated by James Bennet, Editor-in-Chief, The Atlantic

The National Investments in Innovation and Technology Infrastructure

  • Blair Levin, Executive Director of the Omnibus Broadband Initiative at the Federal Communications Commission
  • Jim Shelton, Assistant Deputy Secretary, Innovation & Improvement, U.S.

Department of Education Panel from the pivotal sectors

Panel from the pivotal sectors:

  • Barbara Chow, Education Program Director, Hewlett Foundation
  • Susan Gendron, Comissioner, Maine Department of Education
  • Elliot Schrage, Vice President of Global Communications, Marketing and Public Policy, Facebook
  • Kathy Hurley, Senior Vice President, Pearson K-12 Solutions and the Pearson Foundation, and Chair

Breakthrough Learning in a Digital Age Session II Literacy 2.0

  • Moderated by Lisa Guernsey, Director, Early Education Initiative, New America Foundation
  • Nichole Pinkard, Program Founder, Director of Innovation, Urban Education Institute, University of Chicago
  • Benjamin Bederson, Associate Professor Computer Science, Institute of Advanced Computer Studies and iSchool, University of Maryland
  • Allison Druin, Director of the Human-Computer Interaction Lab, Associate Professor, University of Marylands College of Information Studies
  • Karen Cator, Director, Education Leadership and Advocacy,
  • Apple Marissa Mayer, Vice President, Search Products & User Experience
  • Daniel Russell, Research Scientist, Google